Latch



. Pa tented July 26, I898. I. N. LAUDEB.

LATCH.

(No Model.) (Application filed Nov. 7, 1896.)

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,866, dated July 26, 1898.

A li ation fil d November 7, 1896. Serial No. 611,426. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC N. LAUDER, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin latches, with the objects in view of producing a very simple and effective latch, one which is not liable to get out of order and in which the sliding bolt is positively moved in both directions, the bolt-operating mechanism being arranged to normally throw the bolt forward to the limit of its movement in that direction by gravity.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a partial end view of the door, its bolt and bolt-operating mechanisms being shown in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a View of a portion of the inside of the door and its casing with my approved latch applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the door, showing the bolt and its operating mechanism in full lines in their normal position and in dotted lines the position of the parts when the bolt is forced backwardly to cause it to be released from its receiving mechanism in the casing; and Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections and vertical sections, respectively, through the door, showing a modified form of bolt-operating mechanism in top plan and side views.

The door is denoted by A and the casing by B.

The sliding bolt is denoted by G, which bolt is mounted to slide freely in a suitable guide or socket plate D. The bolt 0 is provided with a tapered nose 0, whereby the outer end of the bolt is of considerably less size than the body of the same. The bolt Cis further provided with a socket c for the reception of the bolt-operating mechanism, which slides the bolt positively forward and backward.

A suitable bolt-receiving mechanism E is mounted in the door-casing B, adjacent to the door A, in position to be engaged by the bolt 0.

Proceeding to describe the form of the dooroperating mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a bolt-operatingbar (denoted by H) has a limited longitudinal sliding movement at substantially right angles to the movement of the bolt 0, the said bolt-operating bar being provided at its opposite ends, at the front and back of the door, with suitable knobs or handles h h. The bar H is caused to positively throw the bolt forwardly by means of a wedge 71. along its outer side and caused to throw the bolt backwardly or inwardly by means of a wedge 71 located with its incline in a reverse direction -to the incline upon the wedge 7L2, the wedge its being located along the inner side of the bar 1-1. These two wedges are so located with respect to each other that when the bar H is slid in one direction to cause the wedge 72, to be released from engagement with the bolt the wedge h immediately begins to take elfect to force the bolt inwardly; These wedges are adapted to slide back and forth within the recess 0, hereinbefore referred to. The door is cut out adjacent to the bolt and bar, as shown at a, sufficiently to permit both of the handles h h to pass therethrough for putting the bar H in position, whereby the said bar and handles may be made in a single piece, if so desired. The open ends of the space or cutaway portion a are closed by suitable plates I I, which plates are provided with suitable slots 2' 2", through which the bar I-I slides. These plates I I are preferably made in sections, so that they may be readily assembled around the bar H after the same has been placed in position to operate the bolt 0. The bar H is arranged to slide on an incline in such a manner that the wedge 71 will tend to force the bolt 0 forwardly as the said bar slides down to the limit of its downward movement by gravity. In this manner when it is desiredto force the bolt 0 inwardly to release the door the bar H has to he slid against the influence of gravity. If so desired, the lower handle, in the present instance the handle it,

-may be Weighted to quicken the gravity sliding action of the bar 11.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the bolt 0 is shown as being thrown positively forwardly and rearwardly by means of a double wedge of curved form connected to a rocking bar J by an arm The rocking bar J is pivoted at j between inwardly extended flanges 7t, projecting from one of the plates K K, in the present instance the plate K, which cover the open ends of the space a in the door. The rocking bar J is provided with suitable knobs or handlcsjj at its opposite ends, the handle j being heavier than the handle 7' for causing the front Wedge of the Wedge portion to force the bolt 0 forwardly. WVhen thehandlej or the handlej is depressed, the bar J is rocked, thereby causing the rear Wedge 3' of the curved Wedge portion of the bar to engage the bolt G for forcing it positively to the rear to Withdraw the same. The periphery of the Wedge portion is preferably concentric With the pivot I 5 j of the rocking bar J. The space a in the resorted to in the construction and arrange ment of the several parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not Wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

hat I claim is- In a latch, a suitable support, a bolt fitted to slide longitudinally therein and a movable bolt-operating bar having a reverse double- Wedge portion engaging the bolt, the reverse inclines of the Wedge being located upon opposite sides of'the bar for positively forcing the bolt in both directions as the bar is reciprocated, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC N. LAUDER.

\Vitnesses:

B. 11. NELsoN, Mrs. E. LAUDER. 

